Coin-controlled mechanism



July 24, 1928. 1,677,893

H, B. HILTZ COIN CONTROLLED MECHANI SM I Filed Nov.-l5, 1924 Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE.

HARRY B. HILTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNQR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUTO- SALES CORPORATION, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW roan.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Application filed November 15, 1924. Serial No. 750,076.

.This invention relates to coin-controlled mechanism. 1

The object of the invention is to provide a simple means for preventing the entrance of an improper coin, token, or otl1er ob ect into the operating element of a coin-controlied apparatus.

A further object is to provide a simple means for returning to the user any improper coin or token or other improper object inserted through the coin slot of such apparatus.

e A further object is to provide means for propelling an inserted, proper, coin or token across an open gap in such an apparatus, but

permitting an improper object to inserted to drop out of the apparatus before reaching the actuating element thereof.

The invention consists of the combination, construction andarrangement of parts as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, is illustrateda preferred embodiment of the invention, in which similar characters designate corresponding parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken from front to rear of the apparatus, showing the parts partly in section and partly in elevation, and showing the coin operated mechanism diagrammatically, the coin or token being shown in three different points of travel;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

F 3 is a plan view of the coin propelling, guiding and intercepting elements, removed from the casing; I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through the coin-inserting and propelling means, showing the coin at the time of insertion; and,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the insertion and propelling means, showing the coin at the point of its travel when the propolling means is applied. v

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a casing of suitable form and dimension, provided adjacent its upper end in one wall with an upper opening 2 and there-below a lower opening 3.

Disposed over the upper opening 2 is a cover plate 41-, which may be conveniently secured to the casing 1 by means of fastenafter described. For convenience of as- I sembly so that a unitary construction may be provided easily attachable to the casing, the front ends of the guide members 7 may be secured to the cover plate 4 as by means of the screws 8.

The rear ends of the guide members 7 are connect d and enclosed by an upwardly and forwardly curved wall 9, the lower end of which is inclined downwardly, and the forward or inner face of which is provided with a cushioning surface 10 which readily may he formed of felt or similar fabric.

A slightly inclined baffle 11 is disposed transversely of and connects the guide memhere 7 and disposed at a point removed from the lower end of the wall 9, so that it, togethcrwith the wall 9 and the guide members T form a passagelf adapted and arranged to direct the coin 8 into a common form of chute 13, the lower end of which chute is connected to the actual coin-op erated mechanism 1%, which latter is diagrammatically shown and has nothing to do with. the specific combination and arrange- 11161113 of this invention.

Horizontally arranged and disposed on the inner faces of the guide members 7 adjacent their forward ends, on each guide mem her is disposed a spring 15, the rear end of which may for the purpose of easy assernbly be held by means of opposite lugs 16 formed on the guide members 7. The forward ends of the springs 15 are bifurcatedv as at 17, and are bent inwardly to a slight degree. The extreme forward end of-each of the springs 15 carries a vertical pin 18, secured on the inner face of the cover plate 4 are guide members 19, one of which is disposed above and the other of which is disposed below the coin-slot 16 in the cover plate 4. These guide plates are each provided with a horizontal inwardly projecting shoulder and the shoulders at their inner ends are secured together as by means of rivets 21.

Mounted on the pins 18 and disposed between the shoulders 20 are friction members 22, which for convenience of construction may simply be washers (shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawing). Extending downward and forward from the baiiie plate 11 is a transverse partition 23, the lower end of which terminates adjacent the lower opening 3 in the front wall of the casing 1.

In the operation of the apparatus, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 41, the coin A is inserted through the coin-slot 6 and contacts with the friction reducing members 22 so that it may be easily inserted and the tension of the springs 15 overcome and the freeends thereof supported. The shoulders 20 of the upper and lower guide members 19 direct the coin in the proper course and as the point of greatest diameter of the coin 8 passes the center of the friction reducing members 22, the tension of the springs 15 is exerted on the gradually reducing diameter of the coin A and it is forcibly propelled across the open space or gap between the coin-slot 6 and the battle plate 11 and on to the wall 9. The impact of the coin 8 is taken up by the cushion surface 10 and by gravity the coin passes through the opening or passage 12 and into the chute 13, as is graphically shown in Fig. 1, and thence drops into the coin-controlled mechanism.

The strength of the springs 15 is so arranged that the tension of the springs will propel only a coin of predetermined size, weight and specific gravity. By experiment 1 have found that a coin of larger or smaller size or of a different specific gravity than has been arranged for by the tension of the springs, when inserted, will not clear the baffle plate 11, but will drop to the partition and from thence will pass through the opening 3. On account of the observations made in the handling of a large number of machines of this character, it has been found that cardboard, iron and other metallic objects, forced through the slot, will not pass over the baffle plate 11, and it was further found from this experience that the insertion of improper object's would clog apparatus of this kind so that it is necessary to have a means for readily removing the same. I

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: I

1. A coin control comprising a coin insertion element, guiding means disposed hori- Zontally and extending from the coin insertion element, coin intercepting elements carrled by the guiding means, means for propelling a 00111 of predetermined character between the guiding means and a partition extending downward from one of the coin HARRY B. HILTZ. 

